Another First-Time Winner as BTCC bids Rockingham Farewell

Rounds 19, 20 and 21 of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship took place at Rockingham which was hosting it’s final BTCC meeting for the foreseeable future, with its slot on the calendar being taken by a second round at Thruxton.

Qualifying on Saturday saw the front-wheel-drive cars lock out the front four rows with Adam Morgan of Ciceley Motorsport taken his maiden BTCC pole and Sam Tordoff continuing his good qualifying form in 2nd. Championship leaders Tom Ingram and Colin Turkington did well with the success ballast qualifying 12th and 13th respectively. Matt Neal was the shock in qualifying only managing 29th on the 31-car grid after an engine change earlier in the day.

Race day arrived with drizzle in the air affecting all three races, but not enough to force drivers onto the wet tyres. Polesitter Morgan got a flying start to comfortably lead into turn one as the incidents happened behind. Dan Cammish was unsuccessful in his attempt to overtake Tordoff leading to the latter facing into the oncoming traffic. Andy Jordan, Sam Smelt and Neal all made contact with the Ford as everyone scattered to avoid the stationary car and the safety car was deployed. The remainder of the race involved little in highlight moments until the final lap as Ingram slowed and eventually stopped on circuit dropping out from 7th. Morgan took the victory – his third of the year – comfortably from a charging Ash Sutton with Tom Chilton 3rd.

Race Two and Morgan could replicate his race one start as the rear-wheel-drive Subaru of Sutton out dragged the Mercedes into turn one. The safety car was once again needed as Stephen Jelley was turned into the gravel at the Tarzan hairpin on the opening lap. A second safety car came immediately after the restart as Michael Caine and James Cole collided leaving Caine stuck in the gravel. 2 drivers took centre stage after the second restart as Power Maxed Racing’s Senna Proctor made his way as high as third before tailing off but the star of the show was Ingram. From 27th on the grid, he was already in 11th at the second safety car and his forward charge continued passing championship rival Turkington and Proctor on his way to a fantastic podium behind Morgan and race-winner Sutton.

Chilton was the lucky one to inherit the reverse grid pole but both he and fellow front row starter Matt Simpson slid wide on a greasy track letting BTC Norlin driver Chris Smiley take over the lead. Sutton and the impressive Mike Bushell also slid off the circuit at turn one and dropped to the rear of the field. The safety car made yet another appearance as Caine was once again in strife with the unfortunate Brett Smith also out with nowhere to go. Rory Butcher was the source of entertainment after the restart, dropping from 2nd to 4th before battling back past Turkington to retake third. A late mistake by Butcher eventually pushed him down to 6th by the end. The racing was fairly quiet throughout with visible gaps between the top 6 until Turkington put 2nd placed Simpson under pressure on the final lap. But, no-one could get close to Smiley who drove well throughout the weekend and has done all season and got himself a thoroughly deserved first BTCC win.

BMW’s Turkington leaves Rockingham with a 4-point lead of Ingram as the championship heads north of the border to Knockhill for rounds 22, 23 and 24 on the 25th-26th August, with Sutton now 3rd and closing in fast.